COVID-19 Special: Episode 3 – RAZOR
RAZOR
30:10

In the third COVID-19 special, Emma Keeling speaks to Nextstrain co-developer, Emma Hodcroft. Nextstrain is an open-source project to harness scientific data on pathogens, the organisms that cause disease. It keeps track of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is essential to limiting our exposure to it.

In similar research to that of Nextstrain, Peter Forster and his team have used 160 early samples of the SARS-CoV-2 genome to visualize how the virus has evolved as it spreads. 

Shini Somara speaks to researchers at Diamond Light Source – the UK's Synchrotron science facility – to find out how they are applying their knowledge and expertise to understand the structure of the virus and assist with drug discovery.

The repurposing of drugs or treatments originally used to treat other diseases is common in science and it's happening even more now. Jo Colan came across an example of this when researchers working to find a universal anti-venom to snake-bites received an unexpected phone call from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

Finally, RAZOR hears form Richard Browning, who featured earlier in the series. He is constantly reworking and developing his jet suit, using 3D printing. But now he's now using that capacity to make protective masks for his local hospital.

 

Check out The Pandemic Playbook, CGTN Europe's major investigation into the lessons learned from COVID-19